Hydroponic drug trade busted in outer Melb

A man has been charged with drug trafficking after more than 2000 cannabis plants were allegedly found during police raids in outer Melbourne.

Police allegedly found 180 plants at a Belgrave home, in the Dandenong Ranges, not long before 7am on Wednesday.

They also searched nearby commercial properties in Boronia, Ferntree Gully and Bayswater where they allegedly found sophisticated hydroponic operations containing large commercial quantities of cannabis plants and seedlings.

Geoffrey Barnard, 61, was later charged with cultivating large commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis and associated offences.

The Belgrave man has been remanded to appear to Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jim Sutherland says the operation would disrupt the supply of cannabis throughout the eastern suburbs.

"We will continue with these sorts of operations in order to reduce the threat of such volatile substances in the community," he said.